Grandfather and Grandson

These are beyond her capabilities.

"Girl," Er Ya was already dreaming about the future, "Shouldn't we move to the south and open a really, really big sugar shop?"

She saw that she was surrounded by a great deal of gold and silver.

"You're overthinking it," Gu Wanning laughed. "This isn't a business we can handle."

"Ah?"

"Think about it, how much manpower, material resources, and financial resources would that require? We don't have that. And if you want to monopolize this, the most important thing is secrecy. Do you think we can manage so many people?"

How to maintain both mass production and secrecy?

In fact, core technologies are very easy to leak.

"It seems so... Then, what's the point of us doing this?" Er Ya said dejectedly.

"Of course it's useful," Gu Wanning said with a smile. "Sugar is expensive because boiling it requires a lot of manual labor. If we could use a water mill, we could reduce costs and increase production, which would make sugar cheaper. Mastering the method of boiling white sugar would also lower its price, allowing more people to afford it."

"Benefiting the country and its people means not benefiting oneself?"

It seems like the girl is becoming more and more like Gu family.

"We won't be left out either," Gu Wanning said. "We can sell this formula."

Selling the property is the simplest thing.

"Yes. But who should we sell it to? Baoji?" Er Ya felt that only Baoji seemed to have the money.

"Yes, that's what I think too," Gu Wanning said. "But the people at Baoji's also know that even if they buy the recipe, at most they'll just be the first to market and make a small profit. But eventually, everyone will find out."

"Then this prescription won't be very valuable."

"Hmm. I plan to sell it for ten thousand taels of silver."

"What? Young Master Duo?"

"Ten thousand taels of silver."

"Young lady, wouldn't you call that asking for an exorbitant amount?"

"No," Gu Wanning said. "They learned the news and started planning in the spring, planting sugarcane in large quantities in the south and refining it into sugar after the harvest. Even if the secret was leaked, others wouldn't be able to imitate it until the following year. As long as they are bold enough and invest enough, it's no problem for them to earn 100,000 or even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver this year."

The main reason is that Baoji has a strong foundation and plenty of money, so it can invest heavily.

Of course, it mainly depends on the boldness of the owner of Baoji.

Gu Wanning, on the other hand, had no resources and was too lazy to bother with it.

She just wanted to earn a little money to support herself and ensure she would have enough to eat and wear in the future.

"Don't tell anyone about this, not even your eldest brother," Gu Wanning instructed Er Ya.

Er Ya retorted, "Do you think the master would covet your money? He's not that kind of person!"

"I've already admitted it, okay?" Gu Wanning stretched. "Alright, let's get ready, find the hawthorns, and make our own candied hawthorns."

She's treating everyone tonight, so everyone can enjoy the precious candied hawthorns—all you can eat!

"Sugar is expensive..." Er Ya muttered.

"For your good old man to eat."

Er Ya: "..."

As evening falls, strings of bright red, glistening candied hawthorns are ready, their sugar coating transparent and shiny, like a thin layer of amber, making them incredibly tempting.

Zhi Nu watched eagerly from the side, waiting for the sugar coating to freeze even more solid in the sub-zero temperature.

Even Huahua was getting impatient, and rushed over to lick it.

At this time, Xu Weibei arrived.

"Does the Marquis know that the young lady has cooked delicious food?" Er Ya couldn't help but ask.

Chapter 161 Grandfather and Grandson

You're lying!

Xu Weibei ignored Er Ya and looked at Gu Wanning, his expression surprisingly aggrieved.

Gu Wanning slowly typed out a question mark.

How did she lie to him?

She didn't seem to have made any promises to him.

"Didn't you say you were going to the Princess's Residence today?"

Xu Weibei waited from morning till night at a teahouse not far from the Princess's Residence, drinking his fill of tea, but still didn't get a single "chance encounter."

In the end, they could only come to my house to confront me.

Gu Wanning: "Oh, I just remembered I didn't send a visiting card. I felt it would be presumptuous, so I'll postpone it. How did you know, Marquis?"

Xu Weibei: "..."

Can he tell the truth?

Cannot.

"I... I saw your second brother and asked him a question."

"I see. I'll go another day," Gu Wanning said. "Did the Marquis need something from me?"

"Can't I come if there's nothing wrong?" Xu Weibei picked up a string of candied hawthorns and took a big bite of one.

Gu Wanning: "It's a bit inconvenient; I'm afraid people will gossip."

When have I ever been afraid?

I'm talking about myself.

Your Majesty, are you aware that your ministers are so idle?

Why do we have to take a holiday for Chinese New Year?

Those who receive a salary from the imperial court should serve the people more and be ready to fight at any time. Look how idle Xu Weibei, coming to his ex-wife's place every day to make his presence known.

"I... came to see Xiao Ma," Xu Weibei said.

"Oh, I was worried I wouldn't be able to take good care of Little Horse, so I was just about to return it to the Marquis, but my third brother took it back with him. I was just about to deliver some candied hawthorns, so why don't you come with me, Marquis?"

"Let him take care of it for me, I'll just go check on it."

"That's between the two of you." Gu Wanning picked up the candied hawthorn.

Xu Weibei followed him like a leech.

Er Ya rolled her eyes at the sight.

The Gu family was having dinner, and the only meat dish on the table was the fried fish that Gu Wanning had sent before the New Year.

A small dish of crab roe oil appeared in front of Gu Yuanshi, also made by Gu Wanning...

Every time Gu Wanning looked at the food at the Gu family's house, she felt that she could never go back to live there again; she would starve to death.

Upon seeing Xu Weibei arrive, everyone stood up.

Xu Weibei exchanged a few polite words, but in his heart he thought, "Luckily, I gave Gu Wanning extra money so she can move out and have a private meal."

If Gu Wanning ate this every day, he would be heartbroken.